.png)
Thai Prisons: “Less room for a body than the inside of a coffin"
#WhatsHappeningInThailand Inmates in Thai prisons face mistreatment, overcrowding, and lack of proper healthcare. Learn more about our newest factsheet on #PrisonConditions in Thailand and help us tell the truth to the world!
⚠️ Inmates in Thai prisons face terrible living conditions which, in some cases, amount to torture and ill-treatment! Prisons are severely overcrowded - some even operate at 652% capacity! But instead of looking at alternatives to custody, Thai authorities just keep expanding the capacity on paper. Currently, a single square meter is supposed to be allocated to TWO inmates! Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said it is “less room for a body than the inside of a coffin".
📍 In January 2020, the death of 4 inmates was linked to contaminated food that was served to them inside of the prison. Even though certain governmental agencies denied this, the prison chief was later transferred due to “negligence and bad management” in connection with the deaths.
🚨 The situation got even worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thai pro-democracy Youth activists are being denied basic human rights & essential healthcare in prison. Young pro-democracy leader Parit #Penguin contracted #COVID19 while detained and even with Asthma, he was given the wrong medication! Penguin was staying in an overcrowded cell with other 43 jail mates - an ideal condition for the quick spread of the disease! Six other activists who surrendered themselves to the police in August 2021 contracted COVID-19 as well.
📍 In November 2021, Thailand will undergo its 3rd Universal Period Review (UPR) - a thorough review of its human rights record where it will be held accountable for its human rights violations in front of delegations from the whole world. Each UN Member State, individual country, can make recommendations, and Thailand will accept or reject.
✊🏼 To make sure that the international community makes recommendations that address issues faced by even the most marginalized groups, brings concrete solutions to them, and holds the government accountable for its actions, Manushya Foundation teamed up with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) to inform the diplomatic community about the most pressing human rights issues that deserve attention.
Listen to #VoicesOfThailand and let's denounce the terrible treatment of prisoners in Thailand together!
🎨 Content by: @zorageraldus
👉🏼 Learn more about the issue in the UPR Advocacy Factsheet on #PrisonConditions here.
👉🏼 Access all the UPR Advocacy Factsheets on #WhatsHappeningInThailand here.
👉🏼 Learn more about the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) here.